when can i bottle

[crouchy]

my youngs larger has been fermenting now for nearly 8 days but i am still getting action from the airlock. my temp as been around 18 degrees. should i leave it longer or is it ready.

 

[Wez]

I'd say it's not quite ready if the airlock is still bubbling - have you taken a hydrometer reading?

 

[crouchy]

ok wez cheers mate.
i thought you shouldnt let air get to the brew.if so whats the best way totake the reading.as my fermenter doesnt have a tap.

 

[Wez]

The beer is protected by a layer of c02 so you'll be fine, you can drop a sterilised hyrometer straight into the fermenter.

 

[crouchy]

ok wez.
what sort of reading should i get if its ready. or should i just check it over a couple of days
to see if the reading is the same :thumb:

 

[Wez]

It depends what the starting gravity was but a reading of around 1.012 to 1.014 over 48hrs would indicate that it's done :thumb:

 

[crouchy]

hi wez, ive just taken a reading and its at 1012.
my og was 1045, how does this sound to you mate

 

[bolty]

That sounds fine to me...As long as this reading is stable (same over 24 hours). Will give you a 4.3% beer.

Might be worth downloading some free software as well (helped me when I started out), if you haven't already. QBrew or StrangeBrew (from sourceforge).

Has some nice basic calculators in there, and they are free!

 

[Wez]

Sounds good to me too :thumb:

PS Take a took at the calculators on the forum (see button on the right hand side of the banner)

 

[crouchy]

yes i do use the forum calculator. makes it so much easier for us that does.
thanks for your help again guys :